The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-10-20

Ou TlSHt UC jduCio. NIiCu ouothCi.
"We'li have no Saxon spies hereu
must own to having felt uncomfortable,
and said in as conciliatory q tone IS pos
sible: Gentlemen, il my presence 10 OBJ
jectionable, shall leave
How polite you are" said the first
speaker, with an oath. Lave you 60 and
tell where we've gone! Not likely. Look
here. boys; suppose we tie him up and
throw him into the pigsty! It will be good
enough lodgings for the English baste."
sprang to my feet, seeing the fellows
about to carry out the proposal; and fear
ing that their violence might proceed to
fatal lengths, snatched up sword that
one OF them had laid aside. and said that
whoever approached me would do so ct his
own risk.
The leading ruffian grinned, and quietly
pointing musket ot me, said: Put down
that sword before say three. One, two
.sLower your weapon, sir!" came like
trumpet blast from the corner where their
chief sat Up to that moment he seemed
ignorant OF what passed around, but he now
stood erect, his eyes flashing Indignantly.
ssLeave that man alone" he continued; 1--WE
are not murderers."
20, begorrau the other replied, .we're
all captains now, an there's no masther
here.' He again pointed his gun at me.
which he had for q moment lowered.
You scoundrel," the leader replied,
s.you'll be in the dock soon, and will have
enough to answer for without adding to It
the blood OF an innocent man."
The eyes Of all were fixed on my assail-
ant. Those who formerly encouraged him,
less ruffianly or less daring, fel. back on
4 @,rS~ hV,t Nj ana
appeared quite unmoved. The woman OF
the house sat in corner, her apron thrown
over her head, in order to shut out the
bloody scene that was, she believed, immi-
nent The lad looked on with dilated eyes,
his lips parted, and his breathing almost
suspended mechanically clutched the
sword, and kept my eyes fastened on the
trigger OF the musket, whic the mans
finger pressed.
aPut down the sword, y he repea ted, in .
low. hoarse voice. ssOne-two'-
closed my eyes and nuttered . prayer.
For an instant hesitated whether TO CON-
ply or to make dash for the door. loud
report nearly deafened me; there was a
scream; and on opening my eyes, ! saw my
assailant dancing about the room, swear
ing furiously, and nursing his right hand,
| from which blood poured. Tho leader stood
| looking sternly at his wounded follower;
| and the sight Of revolver, still smoking,
| in his hand told me to whom / owed my
| life There was not murmer heard, even
| the ruffian whose murderous designs were
| frustrated, after the first outburst, writhed
| in silence
my good woman said the chief calmly,
s.perhaps you will be kind enough to give
| that rascal some old linen and help him to
bandage his hand"
| While my hostess was engaged on this
| task, two Of the men who had been placed
as sentinels outside rushed in. 1.-THE red
coats are comn'!'' they cried. There's
| cavalry there too, an some o. the boys are
runnin' this way"
In an instant all was wild confusion
With cry Of alarm, my would. be murderer
fed, completing the wrapping OF hi.
wounded limb while running. He wa.
followed by several others. STRAIN tn
praties.' cried some of those who re
NAMED; and before many seconds, thu
huge pot was taken from the fire, the waite
J drained of. and the half-cooked potatoes
divided among the hungry rebels, wh'
thrust them into their pockets and hats
burning their hands, and dancing with pain
The chief was the last to leave the house
after committing the boy to the woman
charge While he Invested himself Of hi
: plume and sash, and put on large over
, coat that one Of his followers left behind,
thanked him for his timely Intervention o
my behalf.
.Pray, do not mention it, he said with
: pleasant smile. Had stood by quietly,
: should have been as great villain as tn
other. FAREWELL
!, TIE lad was terribly frightened. ''Oh!
he sobbed. III l could only run! But
can't, an they'll ketch me an hang me-"
,, Nv hostess was hardly recovered froI
|, the stupor into which she was thrown b
, my peril, and she now looked around wit
! dull eyes.
t.Can we do nothing to save this poo
boy" asked. '.Why not say he is you
son.
..Of coorse, OF coorse - she answered, he
, face lighting up with intelligence. "Res
aisy, darlin',n she continued; mo wan
hurt hair o. yer head"
corroborated this, and the boy was con
, forted.
"Why did you join those mens' asked
: ssMe father was with 'um, sir"
, us he killed." went on.
mo, sir; oh, non the lad replied with
0 look Of alarm, "but we lost wan another.
> whats your name, alunnahF' inquire
/ the woman.
spatsy Ryan. mas am
i Her face became dark, and she starte
| back from the bed, over which she had bee
: leaning, asking in q cold, hard voice
4 .Where dye come from, good boy!''
g '.From Tulla, ma am, three miles tn 10Th.
J. side o. Doneraile," the lad answered, pu.
!. zled by the change in her manner.
J. rs foxy Pad Ryan yer fathersn..sh almo
3 screamed.
!, yes, ma am,- was the falterlng reply.
The woman became frsntic. Course
]. BROOD" she shrieked that brought nothil
to me an mine but misfortune! Whclp
e q vagabone, assassin an parjured informe
come till give ye to the polls, an put ye
]. fair way o. bein' hanged"
le She seized the boy by the shoulders, al
ID before he could resist dragged him fro
W the bed, and they struggled together for
IS moment on the floor. / raised the wom
q and drew her away, demonstrating and G
ID treating meanwhile. She turned on I
ID like fury, and, snatching up an axe tn
p, stood behind the door, rushed towards n
le welding the weapon, while her eyes fash
and her lips quivered.
ne sDon't come between me an me
in husband into crime, an falsely swore h
to the gallows, who broke me heart .
e. ruined me lifel III ye-foxy Pad Ry,
he An whin have his son here in me pow
who'll say mustn't have blood for bloc
u. Il followed me darlin' Dan to Cork jail,
10. saw him brought out tied with ropes,
iii thin they strangled him to death. 4
is whin come home, found me baby dc
RS from cowld an hunger; an 1 knelt do
Is. an prayed that the curse of all the sail
ed might attind the villin who brought
er dcsolation on me house. An here's
, a son, an FL folly him to the gallows to,
&c Exhausted by passion, she dropped il
er- a chair, still holding the axe, and look
er threateningly on the boy, who had or
,er back to bed, and now lay gazing in ter
at the woman. We heard voices outsi
nd and all three turned towards the windt
aw The snow had ceased, the air was Gle
ey and the sun shone colby on the VIII
A roocd hills, while an icy wind moal
til through the glen. my fatherW cried